Adjustable slaughtering cradle



Jan. 2, 1951 c, D N 2,536,268

ADJUSTABLE SLAUGHTERING CRADLE Filed Aug. 51, 1946 Znmcutor (/yae E.0/7/0/7.

(Ittornegs Patented Jan. 2, 1951 ADJUSTABLE. SLAUGHTERI-NG CRADLE ClydeE. Dillon; Kansas City, M01, assigno'r, by

mesne assignments; to Raymond'H. Starr, Kansas City, Mo.

ApplicationAugust 31, 1946, Serial No. 694,374v

3 Claims. 1

This invention relates. to a. cradle for use in slaughtering plants tofacilitate legging andsiding of beef. and skinning of hogs.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a cradle that isadapted to conform with the" width. and shape of an animals back so asto support stably the carcass at a convenient height.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a cradle of this characterthat is of simple and inexpensive construction and which promotescleaner andwbetter working conditions and results in cleaner hides.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention hereinafterpointed out, Iv have provided improved structure, the preferred form ofwhich is i'llu-strated'in' the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a cradle constructed in accordance withthe present invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the cradle.

Fig. 3 is an end view partly in section to better illustrateadjustability of the cross members.

Referring more in detail to the drawings;

1 designates a cradle constructed in accordance with the presentinvention and which includes spaced rail members 2 and 3 havingsubstantially parallel median portions 4 and 5 and outwardly divergingend portions 6'l and 89. Each rail is preferably formed of a section ofpipe or the equivalent and has bends l and ii spaced inwardly from theends to provide the diverging portion 6-'! and 8-9. The ends of therails are supported by legs |2-I3 and I l-l which are preferably formedof the same material as the rails and which are welded thereto atsubstantially right angles thereto as indicated at IS.

The intermediate portions of the rails are supported by similar legs I1and 18 having upper ends fixed to the rails. The legs are of a length tosupport the rails at the desired height. Corresponding legs i2--l3, H-l8and l ll 5 are interconnected b cross members I9, 20 and 2|respectively. Each cross member includes a tubular section or theequivalent 22 welded to the legs at one side at points spaced from theends thereof and which extend at substantially right angles toward theopposite side to cooperate with a complementary section 23 that isslidable in the tubular section 22. The sections 22 and 23 of theendmost cross members are adapted to be fixed together by a pin 24 thatis insertable through one of a series of openings 25 in the tubularsection 22 and through one of a series of openings 26 of the sections23. The pins 24' are preferably provided with eye-shaped heads 2-? tofacilitate removal and placement thereof.

The rails are thus adapted to be adjustedlaterally to and from eachother' to conformto the back width of the carcass to besupported'thereon. In order to suppofl' the back of the carcass intermediate" therails, the rail'sare interconnected by crosssupports 2'3, 2'9 and 3t;each include m a pair of complementary arms 31' and 32 having openingsand 3 for pivotally mounting the arms on the rails. The adjacent ends ofthe arms overlap and are pivotally connected to ether by fasteningdevices such as bolts 35.

The cross supports are spaced suitable distances apart alon the lengthof the median portions oftherails so that they are in position tosupport adequately the back of an animal... The cross supportscooperat'eto form a substantially V-shaped'trough in which the back of the animalis supported while the fore and hind quarters are carried by thediverging portions of the rails.

In using the device for supporting animals having substantially flatstraight backs, the pins 24 are removed from the cross bars and therails are moved apart so that the arms of the cross supportssubstantially approach a straight line position, after which the pinsare reinserted in the proper apertures to maintain the adjustment. Incase the device is used for supporting poor grade of animals or thosehaving relatively thin narrow backs and flanks, the rails are readjustedand brought nearer together, in which position the arms of the crossmembers form a deeper trough-like support and more nearly conform to theback of the animal.

While the device is especially adapted for the legging and siding orbeer, it is also suitable ior supporting hogs when they are beingskinned.

It is obvious that the cradle supports the animal in convenient heightabove the floor, promotes cleaner and better working conditions, andalso results in cleaner hides because the animal is kept off of theblood that accumulates on the floor.

From the foregoing it is obvious that I have provided a cradle devicethat is of simple and inexpensive construction and which is well adaptedfor its intended purpose.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A cradle for use in slaughtering plants including side rails uponwhich the opposite sides of the back of an animal are adapted to rest,legs spaced along the length of the side rails and having upper endsfixed directly to the rails for supporting the rails from a floor,adjustable cross members connecting the legs of one rail with oppositelegs of the other rail below said rails to adjustably space the railsapart in accordance with the width of the animals back, supportingmembers in spaced apart relation in the longitudinal direction of saidrails to provide open spaces between said supporting members and eachcomprising complementary bars having ends pivotally connected with therails, and pivot means connecting the complementary arm on one rail withthe complementary arm on the other rail to provide substantially narrowsubstantially V-shaped supports for the back of the animal between saidopen spaces and adjustable in angularity with adjustment of the crossmembers.

2. A cradle for use in slaughtering plants including side rails uponwhich opposite sides of the back of an animal are adapted to rest andhaving their respective ends diverging outwardly from substantiallyparallel intermediate portions, legs having upper ends directly fixed tothe diverging ends of the rails for supporting the rails from the floor,telescoping cross members connecting the legs of one rail with oppositelegs of the other rail to adjustably space the rails apart in accordancewith the width of the animal's back, transverse supporting bars spacedalong parallel portions of the rails and forming relatively narrowtransverse V-shaped supports for engaging spaced points along the backof the animal and providing open spaces therebetween, each of saidtransverse bars comprising complementary members having ends pivotallyconnected with the rails at points spaced along the rails, and pivotmeans connecting the complementary member on one rail with thecomplementary member on the other rail for adjustment in angularity withadjustment of the length of the members of the cross bars.

3. A cradle for use in slaughtering plants including side rails uponwhich opposite sides of the back of an animal are adapted to rest andhaving their respective ends diverging outwardly from substantiallyparallel intermediate portions, legs having upper ends directly fixed tothe diverging ends of the rails for supporting the rails from the floor,similar legs having upper ends directly connected with the parallelportions of the rails, telescoping cross members connecting legs of onerail with opposite legs of the other rail to adjustably space the railsapart in accordance with CLYDE E. DILLON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 341,377 Finlay May 4, 1886855,219 Anthony May 28, 1907 1,059,712 Conkey Apr. 22, 1913 1,159,528Noonan Nov. 9, 1915 1,445,487 Clark Feb. 13, 1923 1,962,799 WhitmarshJune 12, 1934

